Secretary of State Race Gets Competitive

There is no incumbent running for Alabama secretary of state, and that's why the race has become one of the most competitive on the primary election ballot.

Three candidates are competing for the Republican nomination. State Rep. John Merrill of Tuscaloosa leads in fundraising and has picked up endorsements from the Business Council of Alabama, the Alabama Retail Association and the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Crenshaw County Probate Judge Jim Perdue and former Montgomery County Probate Judge Reese McKinney are stressing their leadership experience as the chief election officials for their counties and as past presidents of the Alabama Probate Judges Association.

The primary winner June 3 will take on Democrat Lula Albert-Kaigler in the general election on Nov. 4.